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Business Reporter
WORKERS of diamond companies that wsere operating in Chiadzwa want Government to state its position on who should pay them for outstanding salaries for between 6-18 months.
Following the consolidation of diamond mining companies that were operating in Chiadzwa into the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mining Company workers of the six companies are in the dark as to who would take over the outstanding salaries.
“We want Government to come out clear and categorically state its position with regards to who is liable to pay the outstanding salaries and terminal benefits as well as damages for unfair dismissal of employees,” Zimbabwe Diamond Mining Workers Union secretary general Justice Chinhema said.
Mr Chinhema was addressing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment yesterday.
“For us its either Government in terms of Section 16 of the Labour Act has taken liability on transfer of undertaking or we will have to pursue our money through the relevant channels, which will enable us to attach company properties for the outstanding amounts,” he said.
The workers want Government to secure all the movable and immovable properties of the affected companies in a Trust so that employees have an assurance that their money will not go down the drain pending finalisation of who is to pay what they are owed.
“We also want Government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to come up with a Statutory Instrument which will put to rest who should pay the affected employees their outstanding salaries and benefits considering the fact that some of the companies have already wound up and have gone back to their countries.
“Most of them no longer have offices and we do not know who to approach. The Government can take a cue from what it did in 2000 when it came up with Statutory Instrument 6 of 2000 which compelled farmers whose farms were compulsorily it acquired to pay specific retrenchment packages to the employees whose contracts were terminated,” said Mr Chinhema.
The workers also want clarity because since the takeover, Government has been playing the roles of employer and regulator.
Salary arrears, running into millions, have been outstanding for at least six months.
“Workers were reduced to destitution while they were still at work mining a precious stone. They were the last to be paid and one wonders if these managers are really human,” he said.
Online Reporter